Historic Designation:
National Register of Historic Places
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
City of Fort Worth Historic & Cultural Landmark
Formerly:
Blackstone Hotel
Hilton Hotel
Blackstone Hotel
The building, designed by Mauran, Russell, & Crowell of St. Louis, designers of other prominent Texas Hotels like the Rice, Galvez, & St. Anthony, is one of Fort Worth's great hotels from the boom years of the 1920's. It was built by Bellows and Maclay. With 23 stories, its unique stepped and spired top is a prominent part of the skyline, rising 268 feet. According to Judith Singer Cohen, author of Cowtown Moderne, it is the only true "New York" style skyscraper in Fort Worth with several setbacks. From 1952 until 1962, it was a part of the Hilton Hotel chain. Hilton remodeled the interior and base of the building at that time extensively and also constructed a 5 story annex to the south. That annex was designed by Wyatt C. Hedrick of Fort Worth. There is very little left of the original interior; only a plaster ceiling on the second level and a stairway. The hotel was vacant from 1982 until 1999. The hotel has reopened as a Courtyard Hotel by Marriott. Although the rooms are completely new, the building still has a feel of an old 1920's hotel. All of the setbacks on the building have been utilized as roof top terraces. The hotel also features a small outdoor pool on top of the annex. Huitt-Zollars of Fort Worth is the architectural/engineering firm that was in charge of the restoration. The hotel has 203 rooms.
Architectural Style:
Art Deco/Gothic
Architect:
Mauran, Russell, & Crowell, St. Louis
Annex Architect:
Wyatt C. Hedrick, Fort Worth
Contractor:
Bellows and Maclay
Restoration Architect:
Huitt Zollars, Fort Worth
Category:
Hotel